English - Amnesty International

EXTERNAL (for general distribution)
AI Index: AMR 23/73/93
Distr: UA/SC
24 November 1993
Further information on UA 356/93 (AMR 23/61/93, 7 October 1993)
"Disappearance" and new concern: Death Threats.
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COLOMBIA:
José Drigelio DIAZ FIERRO, known as "Polo" aged 27
and new name:
Rosa María ESPÍTIA (common-law wife of José Drigelio Díaz)
and her daughters.
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Rosa María Espítia and
her daughters due to harassment and death threats by unidentified individuals
since she denounced the "disappearance" of her boyfriend, José Drigelio Díaz
Fierro, in September 1993 to the Colombian authorities.
According to reports, Rosa María Espítia has been permanently followed by
unidentified individuals. Men in unmarked cars have been parked outside her
house and at her work at the Ministry of Health Pharmacy. She has received
threats over the telephone saying that if she does not keep quiet, her daughters
will "pay for it" ("que se calle si no quiere que la paguen sus hijas"). As
a result of these threats Rosa María Espítia has taken her daughters out of
school and has left her home.
Rosa María Espítia, like José Drigelio Díaz Fierro, was demobilized from the
guerrilla organization, the 19 April Movement (Movimiento 19 de Abril (M-19))
following peace agreements with the government in 1990. Members of the M-19
were granted an amnesty and reorganized as a legal political party. A number
of former M-19 guerrillas have been killed or "disappeared" since then. José
Drigelio Díaz Fierro "disappeared" on 30 September 1993 when he was abducted
by armed men in Ibagué, department of Tolima. José Drigelio's whereabouts
still remain unknown.
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and
airmail letters either in Spanish, English or your own language:
- expressing concern for the safety of Rosa María Espítia and her daughters,
who have been being harassed and followed by unidentified men and have been
receiving telephone death threats;
- urging that all possible measures be taken to protect the lives of Rosa
María Espítia and her daughters and to enable them to pursue investigations
into the "disappearance" of José Drigelio Díaz Fierro;
- requesting information as to the progress of investigations into the
"disappearance" of José Drigelio Díaz Fierro.
APPEALS TO:
1) President of Colombia:
Señor Presidente César Gaviria Trujillo
Presidente de la República
Palacio de Nariño
Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia
Telegrams: President Gaviria, Bogotá, Colombia
2
Telexes: 44281 PALP CO
Faxes: + 57 1 286 7324/7434
287 7937
Salutation:Excelentísimo Sr. Presidente/
Dear President Gaviria
2) Procurator General:
Dr. Carlos Gustavo Arrieta Padilla
Procurador General de la Nación
Procuraduría General
Edificio Banco Ganadero
Carrera 5, No. 15-80
Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia
Telegrams: Procurador General Arrieta, Bogotá, Colombia
Faxes:+ 57 1 284 0472
Salutation:Sr. Procurador de la Nación/Dear Dr. Arrieta
3) Attorney General:
Dr. Gustavo de Greiff
Fiscal General de la Nación
Fiscalia General de la Nación
Apartado Aéreo 29855
Santa Fé de Bogotá
Colombia
Telegrams:Fiscal General, Fiscalia General, Bogotá, Colombia
Faxes:+ 57 1 287 0939
Salutation: Estimado Dr. de Greiff/Dear Dr. de Greiff
4) Governor of the Department of Tolima:
Señor Ramiro Lozano Neira
Gobernador del Departamento del Tolima
Gobernación del Tolima
Calle 10 y 11, Carrera 3
Ibagué, Tolima
Telexes:
47156
Faxes:
+57 82 638588
Salutation: Estimado Señor Lozano/Dear Mr.Lozano
COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
1) Lawyers' Association:
Corporación Colectivo de Abogados
AA 44456
Santa Fé de Bogotá
Colombia
2) Association for Relatives of the "Disappeared":
Señores
ASFADDES
AA 011446
Santa Fé de Bogotá
Colombia
and to diplomatic representatives of COLOMBIA accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the International Secretariat,
3
or your section office, if sending appeals after 5 January 1994.